By Scott D. Johnston

For GH Newspaper Group

About 40 members and guests of North Beach VFW Post 8956 gathered last Wednesday for the installation of new officers and a celebration of retiring the mortgage on the post’s home at 956 Trent Court SE in Ocean Shores.

Post Commander John Link said the group, which was founded in 1966, relocated from its old post at Hogan’s Corner in November 2014.

He said one post member has turned a sad situation into something very positive and enduring: Ron Eckardt, who is terminally ill, recently donated $25,000 toward paying off the post’s mortgage. Link said the 136 other local members quickly raised the rest of what was needed, and the building was paid off.

A plaque proclaims the facility to be the Ronald B. Eckardt Memorial Hall. Eckardt himself was not feeling well enough to attend the ceremony. Link noted that his legacy gift means “the future’s pretty much assured for the post having a home.”

On hand for the mortgage-burning were newly installed post officers Otis Warren, Robert Hakanson, Bob Howe, Jim Docherty, John Link, Dan Martin and Robin Johnson.